Atomizer head



H; M. MARSH ATOMIZER HEAD Dec. 13, 1938.

Filed April 14, 1938 U////////////////////m/m/// 0 6. n d f f W Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZER HEAD Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,115 In Canada October 6, 1937 10 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizer heads and particulaly to atomizer heads of the type in which a liquid is sprayed or atomized by high pressure gas or air.

An object of this invention is to provide an atomizer head of simple and economical construction which includes mechanism for automatically cleaning both the liquid and the gas nozzle upon a predetermined reduction in the gas pressure. An object is to provide an atomizer head having concentric liquid and gas nozzles that are axially slidable relative to each other and to a stationary cleaning rod; the nozzles in operative position providing a central liquid outlet surrounded by an annular gas outlet, and the nozzles being movable into inoperative positions with the inner nozzle telescoped upon the cleaning rod and projected through the outer nozzle. A further object is to provide an atomizer head of the type stated in which the nozzles are projected into operative positions by the pressure of the gas or air, and are returned to inoperative positions by a spring system.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal central section through an embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in operative or spraying position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are end elevations of the outlet end and the liquid end, respectively, of the same;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts in inoperative or cleaning position;

Figs. 5 and 6 are end elevations of the inner and outer ends, respectively, of the nozzle assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the liquid nozzle.

In the drawing, like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different iigures.

The particular embodiment shown in the drawing was designed for use in a humidifier system oi the type in which the flow of high pressure air through a small outlet creates a suction for lifting water from a level somewhat below that of the air outlet.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a cylindrical casing section having a threaded air inlet opening 2, and a threaded water inlet connection 3. For convenience of description, reference will be made to the relative location of the parts when the cylindrical casing is vertically arranged as shown in Figures l and 4, but it is understood that the axis of the atomizer head may be at any desired inclination when the device is in use. 'Ihe interior of the cylindrical casing section I is counterbored to A. provide a minimum diameter bore section 4 i5 forming a water inlet chamber adjacent its lower end and an upper bore section 5 of larger diameter forming an air inlet chamber, the lower bore section having a lateral vent opening 6 and the upper communicating with the air inlet 2. 10 l nal passages of sector shape, in cross-section, 20,

for the ow of water along the nozzle sleeve. The air nozzle I2 is counterbored from the lower end and has an air outlet I3 at the top end. A cup leather washer I4 forming a piston is secured to the lower end of the sleeve of the air nozzle I2 by a nut I4 threaded upon the threaded portion of the air nozzle. The washer I5 below the cup leather has a depending flange which retains the series of stop pins IB in radial openings in the nozzle sleeve I2, the inner ends of the pins being loosely seated against the liquid nozzle 'I at the smaller size squared section II. Relative axial movement of the nozzles is thus limited by play of the stop pins between the squared sections I0. Within the upper end of the casing I is fastened a sleeve Il for holding the spring I8 in position, the lower end of this sleeve acting as a stop contacted by the nut I4 when the nozzles are in the operating position as shown in Fig. 1.

A rod or wire I9 for cleaning the water nozzle 8 is xed to the stem 20 which has its lower end bent over at right angles to seat in the counterbored recess 2I in the water inlet nozzle 3.

It is customary to use air at about 30 pounds pressure for atomizing the water, and the strength of the spring I8 which engages the sleeve II and the air nozzle may be so related to the area of the nozzle sleeve I2 that the nozzle sleeve moves inwardly when the air pressure falls below 10 pounds per square inch. This closes the air outlet by causing the tapered nozzle 8 to plug the air outlet and shut oi the suction on the Water supply and prevents the discharge of water in large drops when the air pressure falls below a value effective to project the water as a ne mist which will evaporate in the surrounding air.

As shown in Fig. 4, the dimensions of the parts are such that the cleaning rod I9 extends completely through the water nozzle tip 8 when the nozzle is in its inward position as shown in Fig. 4. When the air pressure within the casing section I is increased above the predetermined value, the piston sleeve of the air nozzle I2 moves outwardly to carry the air outlet away from the water nozzle 8 suliciently to form an annular air passage, thus permitting a discharge of high pressure air through the said passage to suck water through the nozzle 8 and atomize it. This movement of the piston sleeve I2 also pushes outwardly the piston sleeve I by the stop pins I6 engaging the upper squared guide Il), bringing the water nozzle 8 into exact atomizing position in relation to the air outlet I3, at the same time moving the Water nozzle tip 8 away from the cleaning rod or Wire I9 allowing a free passage of water to the water nozzle 8.

It is to be noted that the spring I8 is located outside of both the air and water spaces and that the opening 6 vents any leakage of pressure air past the sliding t of ythe piston end of the sleeve 'I of the water nozzle to the atmosphere. A groove 22 in the piston sleeve 'I Will act as a seal to further prevent leakage of air through the vent opening 6. The sliding t of the lower piston end of the sleeve I seals the bore section 4 against atmospheric pressure through the vent opening 6, so as not to interfere with the suction lift of the water created by air passing through the opening I3 at the tip 8 of the water nozzle.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the specific construction herein described and illustrated and that various changes may be made in the shapes, sizes, and relative locations of the parts, without departure from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: f

l. In an atomizer head, the combination of a casing having inlets for two fluids, a nozzle sleeve longitudinally slidable in the casing and having a fluid outlet opening at its outer end; a second nozzle sleeve longitudinaly slidable in the firstmentioned sleeve, the second nozzle sleeve being adapted to enter the opening of the first-mentioned nozzle sleeve to denne an annular outlet, and a stationary cleaning rod secured to the casing and extending longitudinally within the second-mentioned nozzle sleeve, the two sleeves being movable relative to one another and to the cleaning rod from an operative position to a position in which the cleaning rod clears the inner nozzle and the inner nozzle projects through and clears the outer.

2. An atomizer head according to claim 1, wherein the inner end of the first nozzle sleeve carries a piston tting in the casing above one fluid inlet, whereby fluid pressure may be exerted against the piston to move the sleeve to operative position, and a spring engages the casing and the said first nozzle sleeve to bias thatl nozzle sleeve to the cleaning position, stop means being also provided limiting the extension movement of the outer sleeve relative to the casing and the movement of the outer sleeve relative to the inner in either direction.

3. An atomizer head as claimed in claim 1, wherein one fluid inlet enters the casing below the rst nozzle sleeve, and the second uid inlet enters the casing below and axially of the second nozzle sleeve, said second nozzle sleeve having its inner end formed as a piston closely tting said second fluid inlet.

4. In an atomizer head, the combination of a casing counterbored to form two uid inlet chambers of different diameters and in axial alinement, a fluid nozzle having a conical discharge end and having its inner end formed as a piston closely tting the chamber of smaller diameter which communicates with the bore of the nozzle, a second nozzle sleeved on the first-mentioned nozzle and having its inner end formed as a piston closely fitting the chamber of larger diameter and its outer end formed with an aperture which the coned end of the rst-mentioned nozzle may enter to define an annular outlet or to clear the same, a restricted passage leading from said chamber of larger diameter through the outer nozzle and communicating with the annular outlet, stop means limiting the outward movement of the outer nozzle under the influence of fluid p-ressure in the chamber of larger diameter, a spring engaging the casing and the outer nozzle and tending to retract the outer nozzle to cause the coned end of the inner nozzle to project through and clean the annular outlet, stop means limiting the inward movement of the inner nozzle relative to the outer, the coned nozzle end entering the aperture in the end of the outer nozzle serving to limit the inward movement of the outer nozzle relative to the inner nozzle, and a stationary cleaning rod connected to the casing and extending through the inner nozzle to a point such that, when the said nozzle is retracted, the end of the cleaning rod extends into and cleans the outlet thereof.

5. An atomizer head according to claim 4 in which the stop means limiting the inward movei ment of the inner nozzle relative to the outer comprises stop pins extending inwardly from the outer nozzle to engage a reduced diameter portion of the inner nozzle. l

6. An atomizer head according to claim 4 in which a ventI opening is formed in the casing leading from the inlet chamber of smaller diameter to the atmosphere, the piston end of the inner nozzle covering the inner end of the vent.

7. An atomizer head according to claim 4 in which the stationary cleaning rod has a radially extending inner end seated in a counterbored recess in the casing.

8. In an atomizer head, thecombination of a casing counterbored to form two nuid inlet chambers of different diameters and in axial alinement; a uid nozzle having a conical discharge end and having its inner end formed as `a piston closely fitting the chamber of smaller diameter which communicates with the bore of the nozzle;

a second nozzle sleeve-d on the rst-mentioned nozzle and having its inner end formed as a piston closely fitting the chamber of larger diameter and its outer end formed with an aperture which the coned end of the first-mentioned nozzle may enter to denne an annular outlet or to clear the same; a restricted passage leading from said chamber of larger diameter through the outer nozzle and communicating with the annular outlet; a sleeve forming part of the casing and extending within the outer end of the body of the casing in spaced relationship thereto, the outer nozzle sliding in said sleeve; a shoulder on said outer nozzle adapted to engage the inner end of the said sleeve to limit the outward movement of the outer nozzle under the inuence of fluid pressure in the chamber of larger diameter; a coil spring fitted over said guiding sleeve engaging the outer nozzle and tending to retract the outer nozzle and cause the coned end of the inner nozzle to project through and clear the annular outlet; stop means limiting the inward movement of the inner nozzle relative to the outer, the coned nozzle end entering the aperture in the end of the outer nozzle serving to limit the inward movement of the outer nozzle relative to the inner nozzle; and a stationary cleaning rod connected to the casing and extending through the inner nozzle to a point such that, when the said nozzle is retracted, the end of the cleaning rod extends into and clears the outlet thereof.

9. In an atomizer head, the combination of a casing; a stationary cleaning rod coaxial with the casing; concentric nozzles coaxial With the cleaning rod, said nozzles being slidable longitudinally relative to one another, the said nozzles in operative position providing a central uid outlet surrounded by an annular fluid outlet, said nozzles also being movable to project the cleaning rod through the central fluid outlet and the inner nozzle through the outer nozzle to eject any foreign matter from the annular fluid outlet.

10. In an atomizer head, the combination of a casing, a stationary cleaning rod coaxial with the casing; concentric nozzles coaxial with the cleaning rod, said nozzles being sldable longitudinally relative to one another, the said nozzles in operative position providing a central fluid outlet surrounded by an annular fluid outlet, said nozzles also being movable to project the cleaning rod through the central uid outlet and the inner nozzle through the outer nozzle to eject any foreign matter from the annular fluid outlet, pneumatic means for moving the movable nozzles to the operative position, spring means for moving the movable nozzles to the cleaning position, and stops determining the two. positions of the said nozzles.

HARRY M. MARSH. 

